Mumbai, Aug 26 (IANS): Career diplomat, David J. Ranz, who had an earlier stint in Pakistan, has been appointed the new US Consul-General in Mumbai, an official said here on Monday.

Ranz, an alumnus of the Ivy League Yale University, succeeds the former US Consul-General Edgard Kagan.

Prior to his Mumbai assignment, he served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Maldives) in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

Before that he was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Pakistan besides other postings in Egypt, Iraq, Morocco, Jerusalem.

A native of New York and a career diplomat since 1992, Ranz graduated summa cum laude (with the highest distinction) from Yale University in 1991 with a B.A. degree in Political Science.

Later, he completed his Masters in Public Policy from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University in 2005.

"It is an honour to represent the US in western India. The US-India relationship stands upon a shared commitment to democratic values and the rule of law. These shared values, along with our economic ties and the close links between our peoples, present enormous opportunities to further advance our partnership in western India," Ranz said, taking charge of his new responsibilities at the US Consulate located in the Bandra Kurla Complex.

Married to Taly Lind, also a Foreign Service Officer with the USAID, the couple has two children.

Over the years, Ranz has received several awards and honours, including the US Department of State's Herbert Salzman Award (2004), the runner-up for James Clement Dunn Award for Excellence (2013), five State Department Superior Honour Awards and a US Department of the Army Commander's Award for Public Service.